Norris peerless in May thanks to confidence, consistency

LOS ANGELES — No matter what happens next, Bud Norris has been places few major league pitchers see.

For the first 25 days of May, Norris has been the best pitcher in baseball without question. Norris has started four games and won all four, posting a 0.35 ERA that is nearly a run better than runner-up Zach Greinke (1.33).

It’s pretty much the same Norris that Pettini saw from the opposing dugout as a St. Louis Cardinals bench coach.

“I see him pitching here the same way he pitched against us the years I was in St. Louis,” said Pettini, who watched Norris go 7-2 with a 2.17 ERA and a .213 batting average allowed. “A lot of times the St. Louis guys — Albert (Pujols) and Matt (Holliday) — couldn’t figure out how he was doing it. But he kept doing it against us.

“He was going after hitters, getting them out. It was simple, but he made it work.”

Norris, 27, will put the first four-game winning streak of his career on the line Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Astros are 8-1 in the games Norris starts, and his performance has a lot to do with the staff leading the National League in ERA in May (2.75, with 59 earned runs in 193 innings).

With a 5-1 record and 3.14 ERA for the season, Norris has bumped his career winning percentage above .500 to 26-25.

“I feel good,” said Norris, who has struck out 58 batters in 571⁄3 innings. “I’ve been throwing the ball well, kind of staying within the routine. We’re all taking it one step at a time, just trying to keep it going.”

Opponents have posted a listless .165/.240/.242 batting line against Norris in his four May starts.

In his most recent outing Tuesday, Norris shut out the Chicago Cubs for seven innings of an 8-4 victory. The only earned run of the month was a fourth-inning home run by Milwaukee’s Corey Hart the start before that in an 8-3 Astros victory.

“He’s done it so consistently, when he takes the mound guys go out there planning on winning the game,” Pettini said.

Astros catcher Jason Castro said Norris has been on the attack more than ever, getting ahead in the count and then finishing off hitters from there. Norris has thrown strikes 65.7 percent of the time (on 270 of 411 pitches) in his past four starts, compared to his 62.0 percent norm entering this season.

“It’s a confidence thing,” Castro said. “He’s really got a feel for what he’s trying to do out there. You can tell no matter what pitch I call and what we go with, he’s fully confident in what he’s trying to do. That’s a huge part of pitching — to be confident of your stuff.

“No matter what the count is or what the pitch you’re throwing, you can get the guy out on that pitch.”

Norris’ fastball still regularly hits the 92-93 mph range and comes accompanied by one of the best sliders in the majors. In hopes of neutralizing lefthanded hitters, Norris has tried to put a changeup and an occasional sinker to better use.

So far, so good. The on-base-plus-slugging of lefties against Norris has plummeted from .811 in 2011 to .611 in 2012.

“You try to play the chess game, try to mix speeds up, make pitches to different locations,” Norris said. “The progress I’ve made this season has been paying off.”

Mostly, though, it’s making pitches more consistently with the stuff he had all along. The stuff Pettini kept seeing from the other dugout.

“It doesn’t really matter who’s up there, if it’s the pitcher hitting or guys like Matt Kemp or somebody real dangerous,” Castro said. “He’s 100 percent confident in what he’s trying to do. That’s a big part of it — not being intimidated by the hitters and just trusting your stuff.”

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Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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May 27: Dodgers 5, Astros 1

Chris Johnson throws his bat as he walks away after umpire Mike Everitt called him out in the seventh inning on Sunday.

May 27: Dodgers 5, Astros 1

Chris Johnson throws his bat as he walks away after umpire Mike Everitt called him out in the seventh inning on Sunday.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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Carlos Lee reacts to a strike call in the sixth inning.

Carlos Lee reacts to a strike call in the sixth inning.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie throws to first after fielding a ground ball from Dodgers' Jerry Sands for the third out in the fifth inning.

Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie throws to first after fielding a ground ball from Dodgers' Jerry Sands for the third out in the fifth inning.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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J.A. Happ pitches against the Dodgers in the first inning.

J.A. Happ pitches against the Dodgers in the first inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a Jed Lowrie ground ball to second in the first inning.

Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a Jed Lowrie ground ball to second in the first inning.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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Dodgers center fielder Tony Gwynn is unable to get to a ball hit by Jose Altuve, giving up a triple, in the first inning.

Dodgers center fielder Tony Gwynn is unable to get to a ball hit by Jose Altuve, giving up a triple, in the first inning.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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Dodgers' Chris Capuano pitches in the first inning.

Dodgers' Chris Capuano pitches in the first inning.

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press

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May 26: Dodgers 6, Astros 3

Dodgers' A.J. Ellis is mobbed at home plate by teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning.

May 26: Dodgers 6, Astros 3

Dodgers' A.J. Ellis is mobbed at home plate by teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning.

Photo: Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star-News

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Dodgers' Andre Ethier is hit by a pitch on the shoulder by Astros relief pitcher Wesley Wright in the ninth inning.

Dodgers' Andre Ethier is hit by a pitch on the shoulder by Astros relief pitcher Wesley Wright in the ninth inning.

Photo: Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star-News

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Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez attempts to bare hand the ball but fails during the eight inning.

Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez attempts to bare hand the ball but fails during the eight inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Brian Bogusevic celebrates scoring a run during the eighth inning.

Brian Bogusevic celebrates scoring a run during the eighth inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Brian Bogusevic scores the game tying run in the eighth inning.

Brian Bogusevic scores the game tying run in the eighth inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris delivers during the first inning on Saturday.

Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris delivers during the first inning on Saturday.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Jose Altuve slides into second base with a double in the first inning.

Jose Altuve slides into second base with a double in the first inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Chad Billingsley pitches against the Astros in the first inning.

Chad Billingsley pitches against the Astros in the first inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Dodgers' Tony Gwynn hits a single scoring two runs in the fourth inning.

Dodgers' Tony Gwynn hits a single scoring two runs in the fourth inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez makes a catch for the out during the fourth inning.

Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez makes a catch for the out during the fourth inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, right, celebrates with Dodgers' Dee Gordon, left and James Loney, middle, after they scored off a hit by Dodgers' Tony Gwynn during the fourth inning.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, right, celebrates with Dodgers' Dee Gordon, left and James Loney, middle, after they scored off a hit by Dodgers' Tony Gwynn during the fourth inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Astros' Brian Bogusevic, right, celebrates scoring a run with Jose Altuve off a bases-loaded walk by Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley during the second inning.

Astros' Brian Bogusevic, right, celebrates scoring a run with Jose Altuve off a bases-loaded walk by Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley during the second inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez, right, hits the wall after making a catch for the out as Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer looks during the fourth inning.

Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez, right, hits the wall after making a catch for the out as Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer looks during the fourth inning.

Photo: Bret Hartman / Associated Press

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Dodgers' Andre Ethier tosses his bat in the air after lining out to center in the fourth inning.

Dodgers' Andre Ethier tosses his bat in the air after lining out to center in the fourth inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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Astros' Carlos Lee hits an RBI single against the Dodgers in the first inning.

Astros' Carlos Lee hits an RBI single against the Dodgers in the first inning.

Photo: Jeff Gross / Getty Images

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May 25: Astros 3, Dodgers 1

Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell makes a catch on a fly ball hit by the Dodgers' Tony Gwynn during the fifth inning.

May 25: Astros 3, Dodgers 1

Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell makes a catch on a fly ball hit by the Dodgers' Tony Gwynn during the fifth inning.

Photo: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

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J.D. Martinez celebrates his two-run home run with Matt Downs (16) and Jed Lowrie during the third inning.

J.D. Martinez celebrates his two-run home run with Matt Downs (16) and Jed Lowrie during the third inning.

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

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J.D. Martinez, right, points to the sky after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning.

J.D. Martinez, right, points to the sky after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning.

Photo: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks back to the mound as J.D. Martinez heads around third base after his two-run home run for a 3-0 lead during the third inning.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks back to the mound as J.D. Martinez heads around third base after his two-run home run for a 3-0 lead during the third inning.

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

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Chris Johnson (23) gets a high five from Lucas Harrell during the second inning.

Chris Johnson (23) gets a high five from Lucas Harrell during the second inning.

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

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Jose Altuve reacts after scoring a run in the first inning.

Jose Altuve reacts after scoring a run in the first inning.

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

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Jose Altuve, left, scores on a throwing error by Dodgers second baseman Elian Herrera ahead of the tag of Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis as umpire Tim Welke makes the call during the first inning.

Jose Altuve, left, scores on a throwing error by Dodgers second baseman Elian Herrera ahead of the tag of Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis as umpire Tim Welke makes the call during the first inning.

Photo: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

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Jose Altuve, right, scores on a throwing error by Dodgers second baseman Elian Herrera as Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis takes a late throw during the first inning.

Jose Altuve, right, scores on a throwing error by Dodgers second baseman Elian Herrera as Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis takes a late throw during the first inning.